Aine Lawlor: Facing Cancer

In this two-part documentary series journalist Aine Lawlor looks at where we are in the War Against Cancer. She faces up to the gravity of her own cancer and learns more about how she has benefited from a new era in cancer treatment.

She explores too how other patients, doctors and researchers are facing the huge challenges presented by this complex, sneaky disease.

Facebook chat - www.facebook.com/irishcancersocietyRecent developments in treatment for melanoma, including immunotherapy and targeted BRAS therapy, were discussed during Part 2 of ine Lawlor: Facing Cancer. The Irish Cancer Society will host a one-hour live Facebook chat with Dr Derek Power, consultant oncologist at Cork University Hospital, at 9.30am on Friday morning to answer your questions in relation to new developments in the treatment for melanoma. If you have any questions, please leave a comment here or send us a private message and Derek will try to answer as many as he can.

Programmes

Programme One

Programme One will look at the exciting developments in breast cancer treatment since Aines mother died of breast cancer in 1985.

Because of her family history Aine always had a dread about getting cancer and two years ago her worse fears were realised. In the programme, she traces her own treatment for HER2 breast cancer, meeting her medical team who shed new light on her cancer cells, her MRI scans and her clinical trial medicine.

The programme also features other women, alive and well many years after being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer thanks to the breakthroughs in HER2 cancer medicine. And Aine meets Denis Slamon, the American doctor who developed the drug Herceptin without which the outcome for all of them, Aine included, might have been very different.

(note to editors: Dr Denis Slamons story was turned into a movie starring Harry Connick Junior)

The programme also follows Aine as she faces up to the possibility of recurrence and her attempts to stay cancer free. It follows her through preventative surgery and as she explores the prevalence of cancer in her family and looks at the role of inherited genes. Aine also visits the Sanger Institute in Cambridge to understand more about the effects of her 20 years of smoking.will look at the exciting developments in breast cancer treatment since Aines mother died of breast cancer in 1985.

Because of her family history Aine always had a dread about getting cancer and two years ago her worse fears were realised. In the programme, she traces her own treatment for HER2 breast cancer, meeting her medical team who shed new light on her cancer cells, her MRI scans and her clinical trial medicine.

The programme also features other women, alive and well many years after being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer thanks to the breakthroughs in HER2 cancer medicine. And Aine meets Denis Slamon, the American doctor who developed the drug Herceptin without which the outcome for all of them, Aine included, might have been very different.

(note to editors: Dr Denis Slamons story was turned into a movie starring Harry Connick Junior)

The programme also follows Aine as she faces up to the possibility of recurrence and her attempts to stay cancer free. It follows her through preventative surgery and as she explores the prevalence of cancer in her family and looks at the role of inherited genes. Aine also visits the Sanger Institute in Cambridge to understand more about the effects of her 20 years of smoking.

Further Information

ARC Cancer Support CentreARC provides a range of support, counselling and complementary therapy services free of charge to people affected by cancer and those who care for them.

From its two centres on Eccles Street and the South Circular Road in Dublin, it offers a holistic approach that takes into account body, mind and soul, and that assists with peoples emotional and psychological well-being, as well as their physical battle with the disease.

Services provided range from stress management, reflexology and acupuncture, to Indian head massage, metamorphosis and relaxation and visualisation therapies, and are provided on an individual or group basis as appropriate. A wig-fitting service and positive appearance workshop are also available.